Marker grains for microfossil research
Our formulated marker grains products, Palynospheres, are designed for use by researchers working in palynology, palaeolimnology and related microfossil disciplines.
Supporting quantitative microfossil research
Palynotech has developed the Palynospheres SG06 range of marker grain products to be a consistently available, exotic alternative to tableted Lycopodium spores and to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the DuPont NEM plastic microbeads product used by many researchers in the past.
Our Palynospheres marker grains provide a visually distinct, defined concentration reference, that can be introduced during sample preparation and used to support quantitative analysis across extended and robust sample recovery processes.
The physical and chemical characteristics of the Palynospheres, along with the variety of sizes available, make it possible to closely match the characteristics of the target and enable easy identification and quantitation post-extraction.
Why Palynospheres?
Chemically Resistant
Developed for use during demanding sample preparation procedures.
Palynospheres are extremely chemically inert, meaning they are resistant to the heavily destructive chemicals commonly used in microfossil extraction processes to dissolve minerals and unwanted organic matter. This includes hot hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid/Schulze’s solution.
This chemical inertness ensures your spike count remains stable and precise across the extraction process.
Physically Robust
Designed to withstand processing and handling.
Palynospheres have a high Mohs scale hardness of 7, meaning they will not easily fracture or pulverise during initial mechanical crushing or milling of sediment rock samples, further ensuring stable and precise spike counts.
Easy To Identify
Distinctive matt black, spherical particles designed for reliable recognition during analysis.
Under a transmitted light microscope, Palynospheres appear as completely opaque, perfectly smooth, black spheres. This means the marker grains appear distinctly exotic in comparison to the target microfossils, making visual identification and quantitation straightforward.
Ready-Formulated
Supplied as a formulated product for straightforward use in the laboratory.
Palynospheres have a density of 1.4g/cc. They are supplied at a defined grain concentration in an isodense carrier solution. This makes it easy to maintain the marker grains in a homogeneous suspension and reproducibly transfer a defined number of the marker grains to the sample.
Palynospheres are available in a variety of formulated grain-sizes. The customer can choose to use a single size, or a combination of sizes, depending on preference.
Multiple grain-size options. Three pack sizes.
The Palynospheres SG06 marker grain range is available in a variety of typical mean diameters.
SG06 White - 10 to 15µm
SG06 Purple - 15 to 20µm
SG06 Orange - 20 to 25µm
SG06 Blue - 25 to 32µm
SG06 Green - 30 to 38µm
SG06 Yellow - 38 to 50µm
SG06 Red - 50 to 75µm
SG06 Brown - 75 to 100µm
SG06 Black - 100 to 150µm
Each size is available in Full (250mL), Medium (125mL) and Tester (60mL) pack sizes.
Choose the grain-size suited to your research requirements, then select the pack size you need.
Previously used SG06 Special Blend or Dry Palynospheres?
Palynotech's product range has evolved from the former mixed-grain-size SG06 Special Blend, to individually formulated single-size options. This enables customers to choose either a single grain-size, or to blend two or more grain-sizes to best match their target(s).
The current product range retains the established product components, presentation, safety profile and general usage principles of the SG06 Special Blend, while providing clearly defined grain-size options.
To fully concentrate our resources on the new formulated single-size products, we have discontinued our dry Palynospheres products.
Developed for specialist research
Palynotech products have been developed around the practical requirements of using marker grains in palynological and related microfossil analyses.
Researchers can access product information, technical documentation and supporting scientific resources to help them understand the characteristics and application of Palynospheres.
Looking for marker grains for your research?
Explore the current product range or contact Palynotech to discuss your requirements.
